The VINs in my window and on the driver's door sill match. The one under the hood by the washer fluid fill tube is the same as those, except for the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 9th positions, which have Zs instead. I think ROW cars normally have Zs in those spots. Were the frames/bodies made without knowing where the car would eventually be sold, with the final VIN assigned later in production?

-Matt

 

Matt
I believe you are absolutely correct.Others will know better, but i think this is exactly right.

Cheers,

 

It was known which cars will become US and ROW versions as in some cases bodies were even different for different markets and not just VIN sequences. 13th digit is the difference and it will on its own tell if car is US or ROW version. It is same in both US VIN versions despite those other chars being Z in body VIN.

What wasn't necesarily known was what safety equipment US models will have. This is visible in 4th to 6th digit. 9th is check value which can be used to calculate if other 16 digits have been changed.